In recent decades, holistic health and the use of foods, supplements, and essential oils to maintain wellness and help curb the onset of disease have become increasingly popular. Green tea is widely touted as an aid to good health, but it's not the only leafy brew that's good for you. Many people drink Assam tea for its purported health benefits.
Alertness and Focus
All tea contains caffeine. In moderation, caffeine increases alertness. Tea is especially effective as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon drink to combat sluggishness. Brewed coffee contains about 96 mg of caffeine per eight ounces, but black tea has only around 45 to 50 mg.
Studies suggest the antioxidants in Assam tea may also help combat the effects of free radicals on the brain, helping to prevent Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Metabolism Booster
In addition to offering an energy boost, caffeine can impact metabolism. One study indicated that Assam tea can promote the production of good bacteria in the intestines. This changes the way the liver breaks down fats and produces energy, and some research suggests it could assist with weight management.
Cardiovascular effects
Studies show that drinking black tea regularly reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by increasing antioxidant levels and lowering LDL cholesterol. It also lowers high blood pressure and can ease complications of hypertension if it's consumed regularly.
Drinking black tea in combination with prescription medication — as indicated by a doctor only — has been shown to decrease plasma uric acid and C-reactive protein levels, benefiting people at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cancer Prevention
Research links diets rich in plant foods to a lower risk of cancer. Experts believe that this is largely due to the strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of polyphenols, which are plentiful in plant-based foods. Oxidation in the body causes free radicals, which damage healthy cells, and polyphenols stop the growth of certain cancer cells.
Green tea has been a popular source for these useful compounds, but research suggests black tea has a greater concentration of polyphenols.
Diabetes Control
Black tea appears to be effective in controlling type II diabetes; it modifies blood sugar after meals by absorbing the dietary glucose in the small intestine. One study demonstrated that the polyphenols in black tea are not absorbed easily so they stay in the intestines longer, affecting bacteria linked to leaner body mass. It is generally accepted that leaner individuals are less prone to type II diabetes.
Additionally, a recent study shows that countries consuming high amounts of black tea had the lowest levels of type II diabetes.
Digestion Aid
Assam tea helps with digestion, whether after a heavy meal or to ease persistent stomach trouble. Studies show that it can ease nausea and stomach upset and prevent bloating. It can also relieve diarrhea thanks to tannins, polyphenols that clean the intestinal lining, reducing the inflammation that can lead to loose stools. Multiple studies show that black tea helps with diarrhea, prevents stomach ulcers, reduces inflammation, and soothes irritation in the bowel.
Skin Health
Assam tea is high in antioxidants that fight cell damage and reduce premature skin aging — sometimes more effectively than expensive skin products. Flavonoids in Assam tea also protect skin from damage caused by UV rays. When ingested, it flushes toxins from the body. When used topically, some people find it helps firm skin, reduce pigmentation and inflammation, fade blemishes, and tighten pores.
Harvesting Assam tea
Assam tea is harvested twice a year during what are called flushes. The first flush is in late March to early April. The second flush is more valuable, as gold tips appear on the leaves, and these are made into "tippy tea." This tea is sweeter and more expensive than the results of the first flush.
Early History
Assam is a black tea grown in the state of the same name, in northeastern India. After explorers landed in this part of the world, the British set up the Assam Tea Company, the first tea plantation.
Today most growers are members of the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association, which is the oldest and most prestigious group of tea producers in India. Assam tea was eventually planted in many other parts of the world, as it adapts well to different climates.
Horticological Information
The Tea Camellia is a hardy shrub or tree used to make caffeinated teas. The small leaves produce green tea. The older and larger leaves are processed to make black and oolong varieties. Buds are used to make white tea.
The two major varieties are Camellia sinensis and Camellia assamica. Sinensis is the Chinese variety with smaller leaves, while the Assamica variety is from India and has larger leaves.
Differences in the taste of these teas are due to climate, harvesting, and processing.
Scroll Down
for the Next Article
More on Facty Health
11 Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenols and catechins. These natural compounds work hard to protect cells and molecules from free radicals that may cause damage and disease. People looking to lose weight healthily or lower their cholesterol levels can also benefit from green tea.
Improves Brain Function
Green tea could help protect the brain against two of the most common neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Bioactive compounds in the drink may protect neurons and improve the part of the brain responsible for memory, according to a Swiss study. Drinking one or two cups of green tea every day may help keep the brain functioning properly.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
People with diabetes should discuss the potential benefits of green tea with their doctors. The polyphenol- and polysaccharide-rich tea leaves could help lower and stabilize blood sugar levels. These compounds may benefit both types of diabetes. They can reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity to help manage blood sugar spikes.
Stabilizes Cholesterol Levels
Green tea compounds can block cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract and aid in excretion, effectively lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels without affecting the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. In other words, this ancient drink can help rid the body of bad cholesterol while maintaining the amount of good cholesterol.
Encourages Oral Health
Drinking green tea can lower the chance of cavities and other dental problems. Catechins and polyphenols are considered natural fluorides, an anion that kills bacteria in the mouth that causes to bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. The European Journal of Nutrition claims drinking one or more cups of green tea every day will reduce the risk of losing teeth. Keep in mind, however, that adding sweeteners will detract from this benefit.
Reduces Body Weight
Drinking several cups of green tea every day could help facilitate weight loss by slightly reducing body fat percentage and waist circumference. Polyphenols in green tea increase the rate at which the body transforms food into calories. Catechins also help promote weight loss. Besides potentially breaking down fat and burning calories, green tea could help boost metabolism when combined with caffeine.
Prevents Hair Loss
In addition to their many other benefits, polyphenols and catechins block DHT, a hormone that is a driving force behind hair loss. Another component found green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), stimulates hair cell production and growth. In addition to drinking tea, some people find washing their hair with freshly brewed, cooled green tea can reduce dandruff and dry scalp, though it is important to always rinse well afterward.
Fights Aging
The polyphenols in green tea work as powerful antioxidants that may shield skin from harmful free radicals. The drink not only fights signs of aging but also treats skin ailments and promotes longevity. Green tea also contains numerous oligomeric proanthocyanidins, which are used to treat common symptoms of aging like poor circulation, nerve damage, and even macular degeneration. When applied topically, green tea may even help counteract sun damage.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Green tea helps repress angiotensin, one cause of high blood pressure. The Archives of Internal Medicine conducted a study that revealed those who drank green tea, specifically one-half to two and a half cups a day for an entire year, reduced their chance of high blood pressure significantly when compared to people who did not drink green tea.
Makes Bones Strong
The natural fluoride in green tea does more than aid in dental health -- it also contributes to bone density. Consuming green tea regularly is linked to a lowered risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. The antioxidants in the beverage may help prevent the loss of bone density and improve bone-building cells.
Reduces the Chance of Cancer
Antioxidants in green tea are so powerful that they may help lower the chance of cancer. Drinking four cups or more a day could help prevent prostate, pancreatic, bladder, and stomach cancers from taking hold. According to some studies, the drink is even effective against the progression of breast and lung cancer.
Promotes Longevity
According to a Japanese study with 40,530 adult subjects, people who consumed five or more cups of green tea per day were less likely to die within the 11-year testing period. Their risk of stroke and heart disease, specifically, was lowered. This longevity benefit is linked to green tea's ability to prevent plaque buildup. Too much plaque clogs arteries, leading to a greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
More on Facty Health
Disclaimer
This site offers information designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information on this site as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for, professional counseling care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.
